Receptacle for printed circuit boards



March 6, 1962 R. E. KIRK 3,024,436

r RECEPTACLE FOR PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARDS Filed Feb. 17, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ML ZZG ZQ 24 FIG. 6

INVENTOR. Rober/ E. K/rk.

BY W .%m

HIS ATTORNEY United States Patent OfiFrce 3,024,436 Patented Mar. 6, 1962 3 024 436 RECEPTACLE FOR PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARDS Robert E. Kirk, Warren, Ohio, assignor to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Dela- Ware Filed Feb. 17, 1958, Ser. No. 715,704 1 Claim. (Cl. 339-17) This invention relates to a connector and terminal construction for use with a printed circuit board, and, particularly, to a connector providing an insulating body into which terminals are locked and are engageable relative to a projecting portion of a printed circuit board insertable into one end of the insulating body.

An object of this invention is to provide a new and improved connector and terminal construction for use with a printed circuit board.

Another object of this invention is to provide a connector having a plurality of socket chambers into each of which a terminal is inserted having outwardly turned lips at ends of a pair of arms, one of the lips engaging a ledge and one of the lips engaging a shoulder on opposite walls of the connector, the arms being adapted to engage a printed circuit board.

Another object of this invention is to provide a connector having a plurality of socket chambers into each of which a terminal is inserted having a wire-receiving portion at one end and printed-circuit board receiving arms at an opposite end located adjacent to openings of the connector having at least one divider cooperable with a notch of a printed circuit board and having longitudinal notches for receiving a projecting portion of the board.

Another object of this invention is to provide a terminal means for use in an insulating housing and having a wire-receiving portionat one end and conducting-material contacting arms at an opposite end, each arm terminating in an outwardly turned lip for locking the terminal means against longitudinal movement of the housing, the terminal means further having intermediately located stop means for limiting wire and/or conducting material insertion and for limiting lateral movement of the terminal means in the housing.

A further object is to provide a terminal and body structure for use as a connector on circuit boards having separate portions of conducting material thereon engageable by separate terminals which can be attached to a cable and then snapped into the body, the terminal having longitudinal arms spaced laterally relative to longitudinal notches formed in dividers for chambers in the body, the notched dividers serving as a guide and for transverse support relative to the conducting material circuit board inserted relative to the body of the connector and serving together with the circuit board as cooperating parts to seal adjacent terminals in chambers separated from each other to prevent arcing of electricity between adjacent terminals and conducting material portions. 1

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein a preferred embodiment of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective View of a connector and printed circuit board insertable therein in accordance with the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a front end view of the connector in FIG. 1.

FIGURE 3 is a cross sectional elevational view taken along line 33 of FIG. 2.

FIGURE 4 is a rear end view of the connector in FIG. 1.

FIGURE 5 is a cross sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

FIGURE 6 is a plan view of a blank for making a terminal means outlined in phantom in FIGURES 3 and 5.

FIGURE 7 is a side view of a terminal means made from the blank in FIG. 6.

FIGURE 8 is a front end view of the terminal means in FIG. 7.

FIGURE 9 is a rear end view of the terminal means in FIG. 7.

With particular reference to FIG. 1 there is shown a perspective view of a printed circuit board generally indicated by numeral 1e and having a printed circuit conducting material lltia carried thereon. The conducting material 10a can be bonded or attached to the printed circuit board '10 in any suitable manner and the insulating board is adapted to be connectible and insertable relative to a connector body generally indicated by numeral 12. The insulating board is provided with a projecting portion 10p on which ends 10b of the conducting material terminate. The projecting portion or tongue ltlp of the insulating board is provided with a pair of notches or cutouts 18c which are adapted to be positioned complementary relative to a pair of dividers formed integral with the connector 12. As is apparent in the perspective View of FIG. 1, the notches lilo in cooperating with the dividers 12d are used for polarizing the printed circuit conducting material terminal ends 1% relative to a plurality of openings 12b located along one edge of the connector body 12. The plurality of openings 1217 are separated from each other at predetermined locations by the dividers 12d which are adapted to be cooperable with the notches or cutouts lbs of the insulating board projecting portion. The connector body 12 is provided with a curved edge portion IZe adjacent to one side of the openings 12b and the curved configuration of this edge portion can be more clearly seen in a cross sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2, namely in FIG. 3. The curved edge portion He serves as a guide for directing the insulating board and conducting material thereon toward a central position relative to the openings 12b of the connector body '12.

Referring to the perspective view of the connector body 12 in FIG. 1 as well as to the front end view of FIG. 2, it is apparent that a plurality of flanges 12 are provided extending inwardly relative to the openings 12b and serve as guides or supports for the insulating board relative to an opposite edge of the one end of the connector body 12. They are attached at one end to a wall portion 12w of the connector body 12. The flanges are located at intermediate locations relative to each of the openings 12b and each of the flanges 12 is substantially parallel to and spaced laterally relative to each of the dividers 12d used for polarized insertion and guiding of the insulating board relative to the connector body 12. The dividers 12d are connected at one end to the wall 12w and are connected at an opposite end with a wall portion 12v which has a downwardly turned wall portion 12% adapted to form the inwardly curved edge portion 12c mentioned earlier.

Each of the openings 12b is adapted to permit insertion of the insulating board through the opening into an inner chamber or recess 12k provided inside the connector body at a location longitudinally spaced from each of the openings 12b. The chamber 12k extends longitudinally through the connector body from the opening 12b at one end to an opening 1'22: at an opposite end. The rela tionship of the openings 12b and 122 relative to each chamber 12k is best observed in FIGURES 3 and 5. The wall 12w and the wall 12v are provided with inner tapered surfaces 12t located at opposite edges of the opening 12z as best visible in FIGURES 3 and 5. The purpose of these tapered surfaces adjacent to the edges of the opening 121 is to provide adequate space for insertion of a conductor or conducting means such as an insulator wire having an end attached to a terminal means generally indicated by numeral 20 and shown in phantom in one of the chambers in FIGURES 3 and 5. For purposes of clarity the insulated wire or conducting means is not illustrated in FIGURES 1 through 6 and only one of the terminal means 20 is shown in the view in FIG- URES 3 and 5. It is to be understood that a terminal means 20 is provided in each of the chambers 12k and that in the views of FIGURES 2 and 4 a terminal means for each of the openings and chambers in the connector body is not shown to avoid confusion with the representation of the connector body structure in accordance with the present invention.

The terminal means can be seen more clearly in the views of FIGURES 6, 7, 8 and 9. FIG. 6 illustrates a blank view of the terminal means 26 and the terminal means includes a main body portion 21 which is located intermediate a wire receiving end portion 22 and a pair of arms 23 extending longitudinally away from the body portion 21. The wire receiving end portion 22 is provided with a pair of tangs 22a extending laterally outwardly from the wire receiving portion 22 and adapted to be bent upwardly as illustrated in FIGURES 7 and 9. The tangs 2211 are crimped or bent around an insulating portion of a conductor or wire in a conventional manner and are used for attaching the wire to the terminal means 29. A second pair of tangs 2212 are provided extending laterally outwardly from the wire receiving portion 22 and are shorter in width than the tangs 22a. The tangs 22b are adapted to be bent upwardly also as illustrated in FIG- URES 7 and 9 and are used for electrically engaging the terminal means 20 relative to a wire against which the tangs are bent or crimped in any suitable manner.

A pair of laterally extending ears or stops 24 is provided extending outwardly from the body portion 21 and the stops or lateral members 24 are formed to be integral with the body portion 21. The stop members 24 are bent to form terminal structure as illustrated in FIGURES 7, 8 and 9 whereby the arms 23 are bent to be located and to extend in a longitudinal direction relative to the body portion 21. The free ends of the arms 23 are bent laterally outwardly and form lips 25 extending laterally away from each other as illustrated in FIG. 7. The stop members 24 are bent at right angles to the arms 23 and extend toward each other in a lateral plane parallel to a plane of the body portion 21 and terminal wire-receiving portion 22. The function of the stop members 24 is to limit insertion of the wire or conductor means and also to separate and limit movement of the printed circuit board relative to the conductor means. To illustrate this function a portion of the insulating board is indicated in phantom in the View of FIG. 7 having a leading edge 10c abutting against one edge of each of the stop members 24 of the terminal means 20. Also in FIG. 7 wire 26 is shown in phantom between the tangs 22b and one end of the wire or strands of wire is engageable against an edge of the stop mmebers 24 opposite the edge 10a engaged by the printed circuit insulating board 10. Also indicated in phantom is an insulating portion 26a around the wire 26. This insulating portion 26a is located intermediate the tangs 22a.

The arms 23 are connected at one end to the body portion 21 through outer walls 27 of the terminal means and each of the arms has an inwardly extending portion 23a connecting these walls 27 with an arcuate contacting portion 23b of each of the arms. The contacting portions 23b are symmetrical relative to each other and are each connected to the end of lip portions 25 which are bent laterally outwardly and symmetrically relative to each other as illustrated in FIGURES 3 and 7. One lip or end portion 25 is adapted to be located behind an upstanding or inwardly protruding ledge 25a formed integrally with the connector body 12 and extending laterally inwardly relative to the chamber 12k. An opposite end or lip portion 25 is adapted to be positioned as illustrated in FIGURE 3 with the end portion 25 abutting against an inner surface of the downwardly or inwardly turned wall portion 1211. This surface of the wall 1211 engaged by lip or end portion 25 is on a side of the Wall 1211 opposite to the side or edge where the curved edge portion 12a is provided. Since one lip or end portion 25 is locked behind a shoulder 25s of the ledge portion 25a, and the other end portion or lip 25 abuts against a surface of the wall 1211, the terminal means 20 is anchored or locked into position inside the chamber 12k.

It is to be understood that lateral movement of the terminal means 21') is hindered due to the specific location of the stop members 24 at an intermediate portion of the terminal means 20. This relationship between the terminal means 20 and the connector body 12 is best illustrated in FIG. 5 where it can be seen that the stop members 24 are located adjacent and parallel to a wall portion 28, and the body portion 21 and wire receiving portion 22 are adjacent to and parallel to another wall 28a parallel to the previously mentioned wall. It is apparent in the cross sectional view of FIG. 5 that dividers 12d provided adjacent to the openings 1211 at one end of the connector body 12 are integral at an inner end with the walls 280. The guide or support portion or flanges 12 are integral at their inner ends with the walls 28. The difference between the dividers 12d and the fiange portions 12] lies in the fact that the walls 28 are provided with longitudinal recesses or cutout portions 29 which permit insertion of the projecting portion 10p carrying the conducting material or printed circuit material ends 1% to a position inside the chamber 12k to an insertion-limiting edge 2% at one end of each wall 28.

Whenever the insulating board is positioned inside the chamber 12k, the notches are in dovetail relationship relative to the dividers 12d and the projecting portion 10p of the printed circuit board 10 is inserted within the confines of the cutouts or recesses 29. It is to be understood that the thickness of the printed circuit board 10 and projecting portion 10;) thereof is substantially equal to the width of the cutout portion or longitudinal notch 29. Dovetail positioning of the printed circuit projecting portion ltlp relative to the connector body 12 results in a separation of at least a portion of each of the chambers 12k from an adjacent portion of another chamber 12k. Thus the projecting portion 16p of the board 10 cooperates with the flange portion 12 as well as a complementary flange portion 25] located opposite the flange 12 relative to the cutout or recess or notch 29. Thus the connector body 12 is provided with the longitudinal notches 29 and each chamber 12k has a portion surrounding the arms or legs 23 of the terminal means in which the portion of the chamber 12k is isolated from an adjacent chamber portion in which arms or legs 23 of an adjacent terminal means are located. The curved edge portion 12c assures that the projecting portion 10p of the insulating board 10 can be properly inserted into the longitudinal notches 29 for closing off at least portions of adjacent chambers relative to each other. To illustrate this closing off of at least portions of adjacent chambers relative to each other, a fragmentary phantom representation of the printed circuit board 10 is shown in a right hand corner of the view of the connector body in FIG. 2. It is apparent in FIG. 2 that the thickness of the insulating board 10 and projecting portion 10p thereof is substantially equal to the width of the notch or longitudinal recess 29 provided between the flange portion 12 and Zaf formed integrally with each wall 28 of the connector body 12.

With the connector body 12 and printed circuit panel 10 of the present invention used in conjunction with the terminal means 20 of the present invention, it is possible to have one arm or leg 23 of the terminal means engageable with an individual end portion b of a printed circuit material provided in the insulating board or panel 10. Since the arms 23 are symmetrical relative to each other on opposite sides of the panel 10, it is possible for a conducting material 10a having terminating end portions 10b to be provided on each of opposite sides or surfaces of the panel 10 and in some instances a pair of printed circuit terminal ends can be joined at a common point or juncture through the terminal means when each of the arms 23 connects with a separate printed circuit terminal end such as 10b provided on opposite surfaces of the panel 10.

An advantage of the terminal means 20 in accordance with the present invention lies in the fact that the lip or end portions 25 serve to anchor the terminal means against longitudinal movement of the terminal means relative to the chamber 12k due to locking engagement of opposite lips relative to a surface of the Wall portion 12a and ledge 25a. Furthermore, the arcuate shape of the legs or arms 23 is such that the printed circuit board 10 and conducting material thereon is resiliently engaged for resiliently retaining the printed circuit panel 10 in engagement with the terminal means and connector body in accordance with the present invention. Insertion of the panel 10 and projecting portion 10p thereof relative to connector body 12 assures maintenance of the locked or anchoring relationship of the lips 25 relative to the wall 12 and ledge 250. This function of using the printed circuit panel for assuring continued anchoring or locking of the terminal means relative to the connector body is provided in addition to the previously mentioned function of the panel 10 for separating a portion of each of the chambers 12k from an adjacent chamber 12k thus eliminating any possibility of having a printed circuit end portion 10b becoming shorted relative to an adjacent terminal means or printed circuit end portion 10b. Each of the lips or end portions 25 of the terminal means as well as the lateral walls 27 of the terminal means and stop members 24 of the terminal means serve to maintain the terminal means in a locked position relative to an individual chamber 12k.

While the embodiments of the present invention as herein disclosed constitute a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted.

What is claimed is as follows:

In a terminal and body structure for use as printed cricuit connector means including a circuit board of predetermined thickness of insulating material having separate portions of conducting material thereon and adapted to fit directly and slidably into an insulating body provided with a plurality of openings along one edge partitioned to define a plurality of socket chambers having improvement which comprises an abutment along an inner surface of an inwardly turned wall portion extending continuously and solidly along one side of the openings, a ledge provided by the body in a location opposite to said abutment and inwardly to one side of the openings, a non-cylindrical terminal means having a pair of resilient arm portions integral with oppositely outwardly bent tip portions in substantially one plane transverse to said terminal means and adapted to engage said abutment and ledge respectively for anchoring said terminal means against movement longitudinally in opposite directions in the body, stop means provided centrally by each of said terminal means for limiting lateral movement thereof, and a pair of opposite flange portions to define the partitioned socket chambers generally extending integrally Within the body from a location laterally adjacent to said stop means toward the openings and spaced a distance from each other which is substantially equal to the thickness of the circuit board resiliently held by said terminal means and to be maintained in sealing partitioning engagement With said flange portions to isolate the socket chambers positively for engagement of said resilient arm portions only on predetermined opposite sides of the circuit board including conducting material thereon;

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,740,652 Hughes Dec. 24, 1929 2,411,861 Antony et a1. Dec. 3, 1946 2,666,189 Cook Jan. 12, 1954 2,689,337 Burtt et al. Sept. 14, 1954 2,701,350 Soreng Feb. 1, 1955 2,741,750 Barre Apr. 10, 1956 2,762,026 Knohl Sept. 4, 1956 2,765,450 Richardson Oct. 2, 1956 2,881,404 Kamm Apr. 7, 1959 

